Samsung update to put 60 percent battery cap on Note 7 devices

If you followed the news the last couple of days you probably picked up that Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 launch has turned into a big disaster as dozens of phones have caught fire and/or exploded due to faulty battery cells. The South Korean conglomerate ceased sales and issued a big recall for the 2.5 million devices it shipped so far.

The latest news is that Samsung plans to roll out a software update for the Galaxy Note 7 that will prevent the device from overheating by limiting battery recharges to 60 percent of maximum capacity. While the company still urges Galaxy Note 7 owners to turn off the device and follow the recall procedure, the software update is a quick fix for users who want to disregard the recall notice.

As AP reports, the news appeared in a South Korean newspaper. The fix will be rolled out to South Korean users starting September 20, but it's unclear when the update may be issued overseas and whether users will be able to decline the update:

It was unclear when the update may be issued overseas and if it will be forced on existing Note 7 phones regardless of user consent. Yonhap News Agency reported that Samsung is in talks with global mobile carriers to deliver the same update to keep battery power at 60 percent or below at all times.

It's definitely an unprecedented move, but it's also the first time battery issues have caused so much havoc so fast.